Taxing car whilst waiting for new V5 (address change)
Discussion
Before judging, understand that my son has learning difficulties which is why this has happened!
So my son is in a bit of a pickle right now as his direct debit "failed" for his car tax. He bought and taxed a car towards the end of June, the first payment wasn't taken until the start of July. Of course, in July they tried to take the payment for June as well meaning there were two payments due to come out.
He rang the bank to cancel the DD for his old car, the same day that the payment for July went out of his bank. He got a notice a few days later saying a payment to the DVLA would be going out the next day. My son has learning difficulties and didn't realise that the second payment was actually for the time he was taxed in June, despite it only being 11 days. As a result, he rang them and cancelled that direct debit so that it never went out.
Now because he doesn't understand how this all works, he thought nothing of cancelling the second payment. Obviously as far as the DVLA is concerned, he hasn't paid his tax for June. He was also completely unaware that any of this was happening as he is in the process of moving house so he didn't get the letters warning him of a missed direct debit until it was too late. He also doesn't do any online banking so didn't even notice that the payment in August wasn't taken either!
Sadly, he hadn't set up a redirect as he didn't understand how it worked! I set up a redirect for him in early August and he got the V5 come through (finally) for the car about a week ago (Covid-19 backlog!) He immediately filled it in with his new address and returned it to the DVLA. Sadly because he's only just done the redirect, he only got one letter from the DVLA about the missed tax... A letter basically stating that he either taxes the car or SORNS it immediately.
The problem is, he's now sent the V5 off to the DVLA again and he can only tax it or SORN it using the document reference from the V5!! There's no reference number or anything on the letter (like you'd get on a tax reminder)- If he has to wait another 5-6 weeks for the V5 to come back through, he may have been fined or something before then for not doing either!!
DVLA have been as useful as a chocolate teapot and just keep saying the same rubbish how he lost the right to pay via direct debit and needs to pay for 6/12 months in full!
I'm guessing the only option is for him to pay £25 for a new log book? Will that allow him to re-set up the direct debit and pay in monthly installments? I'm guessing he'll still have to pay for June as well?
So my son is in a bit of a pickle right now as his direct debit "failed" for his car tax. He bought and taxed a car towards the end of June, the first payment wasn't taken until the start of July. Of course, in July they tried to take the payment for June as well meaning there were two payments due to come out.
He rang the bank to cancel the DD for his old car, the same day that the payment for July went out of his bank. He got a notice a few days later saying a payment to the DVLA would be going out the next day. My son has learning difficulties and didn't realise that the second payment was actually for the time he was taxed in June, despite it only being 11 days. As a result, he rang them and cancelled that direct debit so that it never went out.
Now because he doesn't understand how this all works, he thought nothing of cancelling the second payment. Obviously as far as the DVLA is concerned, he hasn't paid his tax for June. He was also completely unaware that any of this was happening as he is in the process of moving house so he didn't get the letters warning him of a missed direct debit until it was too late. He also doesn't do any online banking so didn't even notice that the payment in August wasn't taken either!
Sadly, he hadn't set up a redirect as he didn't understand how it worked! I set up a redirect for him in early August and he got the V5 come through (finally) for the car about a week ago (Covid-19 backlog!) He immediately filled it in with his new address and returned it to the DVLA. Sadly because he's only just done the redirect, he only got one letter from the DVLA about the missed tax... A letter basically stating that he either taxes the car or SORNS it immediately.
The problem is, he's now sent the V5 off to the DVLA again and he can only tax it or SORN it using the document reference from the V5!! There's no reference number or anything on the letter (like you'd get on a tax reminder)- If he has to wait another 5-6 weeks for the V5 to come back through, he may have been fined or something before then for not doing either!!
DVLA have been as useful as a chocolate teapot and just keep saying the same rubbish how he lost the right to pay via direct debit and needs to pay for 6/12 months in full!
I'm guessing the only option is for him to pay £25 for a new log book? Will that allow him to re-set up the direct debit and pay in monthly installments? I'm guessing he'll still have to pay for June as well?
Firstly, you don't have to cancel a direct debit when you sell a car. When the DVLA are notified that there has been a change of owner (private or into the trade), it is cancelled automatically. Of course, if it is very close to a d/d date, the payment may be taken and then refunded. By cancelling a d/d yourself you cannot receive a refund either.
Personally, I always pay in full and then they refund me with a cheque at change of owner or when I declare SORN. I fail to understand why you have to give them a 5% premium for paying by d/d (which incurs minimal admin) but the admin cost of printing and mailing out cheques is included in the VED cost.
You can only tax a car using the certificate number on the V5c once a replacement has been issued for a change of address. The new keeper section of the old one would be invalid.
You're right, he's got himself in a right pickle over this, but it should be possible to do it by phone. There's also webchat which may help to explain the predicament but they have restricted hours:
https://contact.dvla.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
I doubt applying for another V5c will get you one any quicker than the one that will be en route. I know it is hindsight, but I take a photo of the front of mine when necessary. I was able to declare a car SORN whilst it was entered in an auction by having the certificate number to hand.
Personally, I always pay in full and then they refund me with a cheque at change of owner or when I declare SORN. I fail to understand why you have to give them a 5% premium for paying by d/d (which incurs minimal admin) but the admin cost of printing and mailing out cheques is included in the VED cost.
You can only tax a car using the certificate number on the V5c once a replacement has been issued for a change of address. The new keeper section of the old one would be invalid.
You're right, he's got himself in a right pickle over this, but it should be possible to do it by phone. There's also webchat which may help to explain the predicament but they have restricted hours:
https://contact.dvla.gov.uk/vehicle-tax
I doubt applying for another V5c will get you one any quicker than the one that will be en route. I know it is hindsight, but I take a photo of the front of mine when necessary. I was able to declare a car SORN whilst it was entered in an auction by having the certificate number to hand.
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